Sunrise

Offering

Cpr Class

Residents Signing Up

For Free Instruction

Saving someone's life can be as simple as ABC. Airway, breathing and circulation are the three basic elements of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR.

Sunrise residents are learning their ABCs during free CPR classes offered each month by the Sunrise Fire Rescue Department. The city-sponsored program began in April after Sunrise commissioners approved the expenditure. Sunrise Fire Capt. Norm Rynning says the program has been well received, particularly by parents, baby sitters and health-care providers. "We can take up to 20 people each month and we usually have a full crowd," Rynning said. There are four levels of courses. The most comprehensive covers adult, child and infant CPR.

"CPR saves lives and it's a big help to paramedics to arrive on the scene and have someone already doing CPR," said Paul Goldman, a Sunrise Fire Rescue paramedic who has been teaching the CPR course for three years. "Even if they aren't doing [CPR) exactly right, it's better than nothing," he said.

According to the American Heart Association, the first few minutes are critical to the survival of the victim because the brain starts to die after four minutes without oxygen. The average response time for paramedics in Sunrise is four minutes, Goldman said, so beginning CPR before they arrive can be the difference between life and death.

David Morris, 11, of Sunrise, took the CPR course to get a first-class ranking in his Boy Scout troop.

"If anything happens at my house, or at my friend's house, I'll know what to do," said the Welleby Elementary School fifth-grader. Sunrise Fire Rescue Paramedic Raul Cosme has taught CPR courses for eight years.

"I like to keep the classes upbeat so I throw in a little humor," Cosme said.

The course also includes training in helping a choking victim by using the Heimlich maneuver.

"It's an excellent course, especially for parents with young children," said Cosme. "These basic techniques could save a child's life."

The schedule of classes fluctuates. The next class, geared to health-care providers, is Jan. 5 from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Public Safety Complex at 10440 W. Oakland Park Blvd. For information on CPR courses, call the Sunrise Fire Rescue office: 746-3400.